Air diffusing device



April 2s, 1953 Filed Sept. 9 1950 H. A. MEYER ET AL AIR DIFFUSING DEVICE 2 SHEETS- SHEET l H. A. MEYER ET AL AIR DIFFUSING DEVICE April 28, 1953 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Filed Sept. 9, 1950 mln INVENTORS Ike Patented Apr. 28, 1953 Harry A. Meyer, Detroit, .and Williaml F12; .Mc-- Cracken, Farmington, .Mich., lassignors to American Blower CorporationyDearborn,.Mich., a corporation of Delaware 7 Claims. 1

Qur `invention relates broadly and generally ito .new and useful improvements in'air diiiusingade vices, and Amore particularly vconten'iplates a `unitary `device which is adapted to be .associated with, or assembled `inconnection with anair pro- `peiling ian for the purpose of interceptingthe blast or stream of air delivered `bya `fan and thereby diiusing `or spreading the air blast or 4.stream in the room or other space served by :the

The invention particularly contemplates :.a .device which will bel eicient and vsimple in construction, and which may be Alocated close to a .fan and directly infront of and in a planetrans- `verse to the vblast or stream `delivered byrtheia'n, 4.and will functionfto transform such rblast or .stream from a .relatively high velocity, welldened helical form in which it is projected from the fan, into a `broaderiorrn or streamof relatively lower velocity so as `to .be spread andidistributed throughout .the space into which `is delivered `instead of being v`projected 'through a limited portion of the `space directly in front of `the ian, or against `persons or .o'bjectslocated in Asuch limited space.

The invention is capable of many uses incon- `nection with apparatus wherein a lfanis employed lfor propellinga stream of airvinto a room 'space :andit isdesirable to disperse'or spread thestream ,as delivered from .the fan, but it will `be ffcund particularly desirable and eicent `in connection with or `as part 'of heat exchange `apparatus .of .the circulatory or ireturn type whereinsuch apparatus includes provision foratternpering `room air', and also includes a `motor driven fanof the propeller Atype which operatesto .circulate room air into heat exchange relationto such provision :and `deliver the attempered air to thefroom, lthis operation lbeing continuous .to maintain desired temperature of the air :in the room. "Certain apparatus of this general type is sometimes located :overhead and operatesto deliver `the circulated air fromrlthe apparatus downward into .the 1oom, in 'connection with which'type our` in rention will be found particularly useful. Inthe :type just mentioned, adiiuser embodying curinvention will serve to deflect the air blast laterally into the room space instead of directly down- .ward and thus prevent objectionable air blast directly onto persons or objects which maybe located in the'area beneath thev eric'hanger.`

AThe invention consists in the improved coni struction to be more fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which `will be particularly pointed `out and distinctly `-claimed.`

ln the accompanying drawings, we Shave shown apreierred formrof `our invention, andwherein':

.Figure l isa iront view of our .inventionshow- `ing the same assembled :in `relationrto :a fan ,2` shown linjfdotted flines, yforming .-part -lof a heat exchanger.

Fig. 2 yis a side elevation, as indicated by ythe line II-eIfIioi AFig. '1 .-sh'owingthe `operative location of our diffuser-relativen affan.

Fig. .3 is -a view in liront elevation 4of `the -main plate 4of nur diffuser with certain .ibaiile :members shown-:in Fig. -1 omitted.

Figa isa View .inlrearelevationrof lour diffuser;

.Figi-.5 .a side elevation as indicated `by V--V on Eig. e. n i

Fig. 6 A'is `a .sectionen the .line `VI---VI of Fig. 4.

.Eigaf, Band 9 .are detail views showing the constructionoi certain vanes `located on the rear face .of- -.ou1'-diduser, Fig. 7 being .on the line ily-fili! oi Fig. 4.-

The embodiment of (curtinvention shown in .the `.accompanying v,drawings comprises Ya vrectangular .substantiallyiat plate l made loi suitable v:metalhaving suincientarigidity to `maintain its rectangular and flat form. This plate I isformed witha surrminding` liange 2.,-.atrightang1es to .the plane of the Iplate land "located Vpreferably yon `the yiace .of the Y.plate .whichfis disposed toward the .ian in. .connection with which4 the `diffuser vis used. This ,face of thedp-latelmay be termed the inner face, or `upstream face .ofthe plate .as .it is `this lace which initially Areceives the air `blast v,or

` stream Whichfit is `desired to diffuse or distribute the room or other space into which 4the air propelled by the .fan .isl to .be delivered.

At .each corner Tor angle of` the plate 4l ,is located an outwardly projecting .stud bolt 3, preferably welded '.to the plate so `.as to `be .rigid therewith.

These `stud lbolts provide means for securing the diiiuser'in theair outlet opening A of .a-casing wall indicated at 5 .in Figs. 1 Iand 2 of the drawings. The Aplate .l is preferably located against the inner "face of such casing wa211"5 -andis held in place '.by'clampiug .washers ,and nu'ts B. l on saidb'olts 13 and overlapping the outerfiace of the wall The plate il `is"`f`or'1ned with-.a plurality or slots/B "for passage therethrough' of. the air stream from the fan and dividing said stream into a plurality of parts for portions.` These Islots are "arrange'din a plurality oi groups, in "the present embodiment; being four in number. As shown,- 'each groupcomprises five such slots 8 which areparallel toeach other `in each group and to a `side 'edgeorperimeter` of the plate.. said slots inf'ea'ch group increasing in 'length from the innermost slot Katth'e fcentralportion 'of the plate to theoutermost slotiof the group, at the side edgefoi the-plate, the several groups 'of slots v'being separated#fromV eachother by diagonal `zigzag' portions f of the plate. #It will abe seen that each of thesegroups-of slots is substantially ltriangular inffform with-thefapex *fol-'med yby "the `shortest slot,*disposedadiacentif the centralf area vof the Along the inner edge of each of the slots 3 is an outwardly directed flange it located on the downstream or outer face of the plate when in operative position, said anges serving as deflectors` against the rear faces of which the air passing through said slots 8 fronr the upstream side of the plate strikes and is deflected laterally outwards toward and beyond the perimeter of the plate. The anges are coextensive with the edges of the slots so that the deflected airv from the groups of deilectors is caused to take a generally pyramidal form, the cross sectional area of which is xed by the angle at which the flanges are made to the plane of the plate, and to the 'axis of rotation of the fan in connection with which the diffuser is employed.

1t is to be noted that the groups of slots are so arranged that the slots and deilecting members of each group are at an angle to the corresponding slots and members of the next adjacent groups, and in such manner that starting with the innermost slot and member of one of the groups and proceeding clockwise as shown in Figs. l and 3, in a continuous spiral-like direction, each slot and its deflector flange delivers air at its end portion across the portions 9 into the path of the air from the nearest end of the slot next in the series, and against the back of the deflector of the second row of slots, and in a like manner from the second, third, etc. slots and deilectors toward the lateral boundaries of the plate I.

This arrangement provides for passage of an ample volume of air through the plate and in equalizing or distributing the lateral flow of air in all directions into the space into which the air is to be delivered. It will benoted that this result is effected by offsetting each group so that a central transverse line therethrough lies to one side of and parallel to the diameter of the plate. Furthermore, the arrangement assures of prompt or free flow of air through the plate, Aso that the resistance of the plate to the air is reduced to a point as will not create such back pressure on a fan so as to cause the driving motor to overheat. The vanes id are made by bending up the metal cut out in forming the slots t in the plate I.

Arranged on and secured to the rear face or upstream side of the plate I are a plurality of baffles il which serve to intercept the air stream delivered by a fan and turn or guide the air downward toward and through the slots 8 in the plate I. There are two of these bales for each of the groups of slots 8 said cailles for each group extending radially from the central portion of plate I to the flange 2, and across all of the slots in the group. Each pair of ballles diverge from each other from the inner ends thereof to the outer ends thereof, see Figs. l and 4, and each baffle for a group of slots diverges relative to the next adjacent bafe for an adjoining group of slots. These baies are so spaced around the center of the plate and relate to the groups of slots as to cause the air from the fan to be delivered substantially in equal proportions to the groups of slots and cause a uniform discharge of air through the slots in all directions.

y The baies are curved concavely toward the direction of the rotating air stream delivered by 21 the fan as shown at I 2, and thus serve to turn the air stream toward the rear face of the plate and the slots 8.

The baiies are preferably secured in place by forming the inner ends thereof with bendable ears I3, inserted through slots I4 in the central portion Ia of the plate l and bent over to form a rigid connection, the outer ends of said baffles being secured to the said flange 2, by bendable ears I5 inserted through slots I6 in the flange, and bent over on the outer face of the flange. The ear I3 on each balle is formed on the edge i3d of a triangular part 13b, which when bent over on the dotted line (see Fig. 9) brings the edge Ita into contact with the inner face of plate I, thereby bracing the inner end of the baffle and assisting in holding the baffle in the operative position described, when the ear I3 is bent over as indicated in Fig. 5. In Figs. l and 2, we have shown our diffuser assembled in an outlet opening ll of the wall 5 of a heat exchange apparatus which for example, includes a propeller' type fan il for propelling air through said opening, the fan being driven by an electric motor I 8 and surrounded by shroud-ring I9, to direct the air toward the opening It will be noted, from Fig'. 2, that our diffuser constructed as above described, has the advantage that it may be located in close proximity to a fan, and that the air stream in helical form and moving in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. d will in part pass directly through the slots 8, and a portion of such stream will strike the ba-les H as indicated by the dotted arrows in Fig. 5 and be deflected to the groups of slots. The radial arrangement of the balles Il also serves to cause the air to be directed toward the side edges of the plate. Thus the baffles II not only serve to equalize the delivery of air to the portions of the several groups of slots il located between said baffles, and to the groups individually with the result that there will be a substantially uniform discharge of air in all directions.

1t is to be noted that the air issuing from each of the slots 8 in each of the groups of slots and deected by the member lb) on the inner edge of the slot will be generally fan-shaped in form due to the fact that the air will not only flow outward from the central portion of the slot but will also flow laterally from the ends of the slots in a direction across the parts Q at the ends of the slot. This is true of each of the slots 8 and its associated deflector lil. By arranging each of the slots of a group so that the delivery ends of the outermost slot of each group overlaps the adjacent delivery end of the outermost slot of one adjacent group, and the delivery end of the second slot in the other adjacent group, and in a like manner respecting each successive slot in each group, the air from the delivery ends of the slots in each group is delivered across the parts 9 and mixes with the air delivered by the ends of the slots in the next adjacent groups. This arrangement has the advantage of contributing to the equalizing of the air stream in all directions from the diuser. Further, the arrangement provides for slots of ample width and length to enhance free flow of air through the diifuser and reduce objectionable back-pressure on the fan.

What we claim is:

1. A diffuser for air propelling fans, comprising a flat plate adapted to be located in a plane air, the slots of each group being parallel to each. other and the side edge oi the plate, and each of said slots having at its inner longitudinal edge a dei-lector member on the outer race ci the and disposed at an angle to the plate to -deflect air toward the outer edge of the plate, the air delivery ends of certain ci the slots in each group being positioned in substantially overlapping lat-- erally spaced relation to adjacent slots to deliver air toward the delivery ends ci certain of the slots in a next adjacent group of slots.

2. A diffuser for air propelling fans, coinprising a flat plate adapted to be located in a plane transverse to and intercepting the air stream delivered by a ian, said plate having a plurality of sector-like groups of slots for passage of the air, the slots or each group being parallel to each other and the side edge ci the plate, said groups being separated troni each other by onal portions or" the pl and each ci said slots having at its inner longitt. final a deilector member on the outer face oi the plate and disposed an angle to the plate to deilect air tov/ard the outer edge of the plate, the air delivery ends oi certain of the slots in each group being positioned in substantially overlapping laterally spaced relation to adjacent slots to deliver air across said diagonal portions of the plate and toward the delivery ends of certain of the slots in a next adjacent group of slots.

3. A diffuser for air propelling fans, comprisn ing a ilat plate adapted to be located in a plane transverse to and intercepting the air stream delivered by a ian, said plate vhaving a plurality of sector-like groups ci slots for passage oi the air, the slots of each group being parallel to each other and the side edge of the plate, and each of said slots having at its inner longitudinal `edge a deilector member on the outer face of the plate and disposed at an angle to the plate to deflect air toward the outer edge of the plate, the air delivery ends of certain of the slots in each group being positioned in substantially overlapping laterally spaced relation to adjacent slots to deliver air toward the delivery ends of certain of the slots in a next adjacent group of slots, and a plurality of bailies secured on the rear plane face of said plate, said baiiles extending radially from the central portion of the plate and traversing said slots to distribute the air to said slots.

el. A ditluser for air propelling fans, comprising a flat plate adapted to be located in a plane transverse to and intercepting the air stream delivered by a ian, said plate having a plurality of sectorlike groups of slots for passage of the air, the slots of each group being parallel to each other and the side edge of the plate, and each of said slots having at its inner longitudinal edge a deector member on the outer face ol? the plate and disposed at an angle to the plate to deflect air toward the outer edge of the plate, the air delivery ends of certain of the slots in each group being positioned in substantially overlapping laterally spaced relation to adjacent slots to deliver air toward the delivery ends of certain oi the slots in a next adjacent group of slots, and a plurality of pairs of baffles secured on the rear plane face of said plate, said baffles extending radially from the central portion of the plate, one of said pairs of baiiles traversing each of said groups of slots.

5. A diffuser for air propelling fans, comprising a fiat plate adapted to be located n a plane transverse to and intercepting the air stream delivered by a fan, said plate having a surrounding flange and having a plurality oi sector-like groups of slots for passage of the air, the slots or each group being parallel to each other and the side edge of the plate, and each of said slots having at its inner longitudinal edge a deflector member on the outer face of the plate and disposed at an angle to the plate to deflect air toward the outer edge of the plate, the air delivery ends of certain of the slots in each group being positioned in substantially overlapping laterally spaced relation to adjacent slots to deliver air toward the delivery ends of certain of the slots in a next adjacent group of slots, and a plurality of baffles on the rear plane face of said plate, said baffles extending radially from the central portion of said plate to said flange and having the ends thereof secured to said central portion and said ilange, and traversing said slots.

6. A diffuser for air propelling fans, comprising a fiat plate adapted to be located in a plane transverse to and interceptng the air stream delivered by a fan, said plate having a plurality of sectorlil-:e groups of slots for passage of the air, the slots of each group being parallel to each other and the side edge of the plate, and each of said slots having at its inner longitudinal edge a denector member on the outer race of the plate and disposed at an angle tothe plateto deflect air toward the outer edge of the plate, the air delivery ends of certain of the slots in each group delivering air toward the delivery ends of certain o the slots in a next adjacent group of slots, the slots in adjacent sectors being positioned in progressively overlapping spaced relation so that tracing from the center outward there is formed a substantially spiral shaped series of discharge openings, and a plurality of baiiles secured on the rear face of said plate, said battles extending radially from the central portion of the plate and traversing said slots to d1stribute the air to said slots, said battles being concavely curved transversely toward the direction of an air stream delivered to said plate.

'1. A diffuser for air propelling fans, comprising a nat plate adapted to be located in a plane transverse to and interceptins' the air stream delivered by a fan, said plate having a plurality of sectorlike groups of slots for passage of the air, the

, slots of each group beingparallel to each other and the side edge of the plate, said groups being separated from each other by zigzag diagonal portions of the plate, each of said slots having at its inner longitudinal edge a deector member on the outer face of the plate and disposed at an angle to the plate to deflect air toward the outer edge of the plate, the air delivery ends of certain of the slots in each group delivering air across said diagonal portions of the plate and tov/ard the delivery ends or" certain of the slots in a next adjacent group ci slots, and the slots in adjacent sectors being positioned in progressively overlapping spaced relation so that tracing from the center outward there is formed a substantially spiral shaped series of discharge openings.

HARRY A. MEYER.. WILLIAM T. MCCRACKEN.

References Cited in the file 0f this patent NITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,713,648 Feinberg et al May 21, 1929 2,021,086 Oskamp Nov. 12, 1935 2,240,617 Harrigan May 16, 1941 2,381,345 Greenlaw Aug. 7, 1945 

